Some of the women who attended The Root’s Young, Fabulous and Female event at the Long View Gallery in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday were questioning if and when they should quit their jobs and devote themselves full time to a startup idea. Others got super candid and described how they were in the middle of a quarter-life crisis, faced with the dilemma of having an expensive graduate degree and a high-paying job in a field that bored them to death. Others were easing into their 20s and 30s pretty darn well on the career front, but they wanted tips on how to balance work and a healthy social life.

The panelists—moderator Jummy Olabanji, an anchor at ABC7 in D.C.; Amanda Brown, executive director of the National Women’s Business Council; dermatologist Dr. Natasha Sandy; Shea Yeleen founder Rahama Wright; Because of Them We Can founder Eunique Jones Gibson; and Addie Whisenant, White House director of African-American media—were all graciously forthcoming. Each of them described the bold choices they made in their own careers to improve their work lives. They also doled out suggestions for how young women can go about gaining respect in their own fields. It was the first of many events that The Root hopes will continue to inspire young professional women. Here are some photos that captured the chic evening. Toyota served as the presenting sponsor of Young, Fabulous and Female.